![\"Attorney](\"https:\/\/www.thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/Mike-DeWine-headshot-200px-6-2014.jpg\")
<\/a>\u201cClaims that you\u2019ve won a grant you never applied for are almost always too good to be true,\u201d Attorney General DeWine said. \u201cIf you have to pay to receive a grant you never applied for, it\u2019s a scam.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a typical grant scam, consumers receive a call saying they have won a federal grant of $7,000 to $10,000. In order to receive the grant, they must first send $200 to $300 to cover taxes, insurance, or other costs. Money must be sent via wire transfer or a prepaid money card.<\/p>\n
Consumers who send money often will be contacted again, with the scam artist claiming that the consumer needs to send more money for additional costs. The scam artist may continue calling as long as the consumer keeps sending money.\u00a0In reality, there is no grant and any money sent will be lost.<\/p>\n
Scam artists may give the following phony justifications as to why a consumer has been selected for the grant:<\/p>\n
- \n
- \u201cYou deserve it.\u201d<\/li>\n
- \u201cYou\u2019re a good citizen.\u201d<\/li>\n
- \u201cYou haven\u2019t had any recent arrests.\u201d<\/li>\n
- \u201cYou\u2019re current on your taxes.\u201d<\/li>\n
- \u201cYou have good credit.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
To protect themselves, consumers should never make an upfront payment in order to receive a grant. True government grants typically are awarded to organizations, not to individual citizens, and information about legitimate federal grants is available for free at www.Grants.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n